Signal device.



J. M. FITZGERALD.

SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APILJ, 1914.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

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d'QlElIt' 11d. FIT$ GERALD, 0F CHICAGU, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOJR, TO AUTOMATIC JELAGMAN COMP, 015' LOS GELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 015 CALIFORNIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 5, il iht.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. Frrz G, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signal devices and has particular relation to signal targets or light attention attracting means for use in connection with a signal operating mechanism of any kind. The device is especially adapted for use with signals where it is desired to move, wave or oscillate a warning or other signal means for attracting the attention of the public and warning them against danger, as at railway or street crossings or other places where the public is likely to be exposed to danger from moving vehicles, cars, trains or the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide a target formed arch shaped in cross section whereby it may be made of great strength without being unnecessarily heavy and whereby internal illumination may be provided which. is capable of illumining the usual signal lenses as well as warning signs.

It is a still further object of the invention to rovide a hollow signal member or targetwit a central bulged ortion, the walls of the disk. being formed of interchangeable pieces and afl'ording space between them for the reception lamps for illuminating the device at night. a

lit is a still further object of the invention to provide a hollow target having central light openings and having warning signs upon the walls thereof which are outlined by transparent lights or jewels, the inner surface of the target acting as reflectors for intensifying and concentrating the light through the said light openings and jewels. With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain 'novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed:

][n the accompanying drawing part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a signal target constructed in accordance with the present invention.

]Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical central sectional view taken through said target.

of the said target.

forming a- The target of the present invention is adapted for use upon various kinds of signals and while it may be employed upon stationary devices, it is especially well adapted for use where the target is intended to be movable and may be carried by a rocking or oscillating arm or device. The target is constructed with a view to being capable of withstanding strains put upon the same by the wind, and also with a view to being seen in all directions. The details and features of the invention will now be more specifically described, reference being had to the drawing in which 1 indicates a target=wa1l,2 a signal or light distributing lens and 3, an illuminating means usually consisting of one or more lamps.

In order that the signal member or target may be made of light material and yet of great strength, the walls 1 thereof are made conical shape and preferably circular in peripheral contour so that when the edges of two opposing conical walls are brought riveting or otherwise, to an attaching member 5 by which the device may be secured to the arm 6 of a signal mechanism, the said signal mechanism not being shown. The adjacent ends of the rim 4 are separated and the edges of the target walls 1 are cut away at 7 within the said attaching member 5 to afiord an opening through which insulated wires or conductors 8 may pass to the center The conductors 8 are used to supply an electric current for one or more lamps at the center as indicated at 3.

The attaching member 5 may be lined at 9 with a fiber bushing or other insulating material as desired. The upper end of the said attaching member 5 is also usually provided with" internal screw threads 10 wherebyit may be screwed upon the correspondingly threaded end of the supporting arm 6. The rim sections 4 are preferably drawn together at the bottom of the target walls 1 bymeans of bracketsll secured thereto and a connecting screw bolt 12 which joins the said brackets. A space 13 is usually left between the meeting ends of the rim sections between said brackets and a registering outa-way portion 14L is arranged opposite said space in the edges of the target walls 1 so that a small ventilating opening is thus provided for the device. The lamps 3, usually two in number may be of any ordinary type and are generally supported upon a transverse bar or plate 15 securedwithin the target. Y

At the center of the target Walls 1 openings 16 are provided which are adapted to be closed by the lenses 2. The openings 16 are usually surrounded by out-turned cylindrical flangesformed upon the target walls 1 and securing flanges are also provided at the outer edges thereof as at 17. The lenses are held in position upon said flanges by flanged straps 18. The said flanged straps form channel straps which may be drawn about the edges of the flanges 17 and the lenses by means of screw bolts 19 which connect brackets 20 fastened to the ends of said straps. The said straps 18 also preferably receive the peripheral securing flanges 21 of shield hoods 22 which are applied over the lenses. Such shielding hoods are usu ally necessary when the target is employed at a railway crossing so-as to prevent the moving signal light from being seen by a car or train approaching from either direction upon the railroad.

The target is also,provided upon its outer surface with warning signs usually in form of words indicating that there is danger and that parties attempting to pass should stop. These words'are generally painted in colors contrasting with the color of the target so that they may be readily seen in the day time. Thus, the said words may be painted in white upon red target walls. It

is needful however that one or more of the warning words he brought to view at night and for this purpose the target walls which in the present invention are provided with a series of openings 23 arranged so as to follow the letters of the warning word or words and thus outline the same when light passes through them. The openings 23 are referably covered by transparent pieces or Jewels 24. The jewels are generally formed of glass of any desired color and are secured in the openings 23 by rims 25 made approxiv mately S-shape at cross section so as to used for an oscillating signal or warning target and when carried bya swingin or vibrating arm. By the conical shape of the target walls, a large central opening is provided within the device and an arch shaped mechanism is aflorded which is possessed of the required strength without being made of heavy material. The walls of the said target may be made interchangeable and thus kept in stock so that one or both of them may be readily replaced at any time. By painting the inner surface of the saidfwalls with white paint or surfacing it with other bright material, the said inner concave surfaces of said walls become reflectors and greatly intensify the illumination of the warning lenses and the word outlining jewels. For this reason lamps of lower candle power may be employed than would other wise be required. By the construction of the device also the lamps required for the them for signals intended to control the movement of their cars or trains. The mounting of the target walls and. also of the lenses is of such a character that any ortion of the device may easily be reached for removal and replacement. The lamps which are usually of the ordinary electric type may aslo be readily reached for re-. newal if they become burnt out. It will be apparent that the minordetails of the device may be altered and mechanical equiv alents thereof employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' What is claimed is 1. A signal target having opposing conical reflector walls applied upon each other and provided with light openings in their apexes and means fitting upon the periphcries of said conical walls for separably holding them together. i

.2. A signal targetcomprismg opaquewall members, spread apart at the center and coming together at the edges, means for crowding and holding the said edges upon each other, the central portion of said wall members being provided with openings through which light may be distributed, lenses in said openings and lamps mounted interioi'ly of the target for illuminating the said lenses.

3. A signal member having opposing coni-e cal walls applied together at their edges and 130 p naeaeai their apexes opposite to each other and auxiliary word or sign spelling openings, the

said conical walls reflecting light throughsaid openings, and the apex openings and giving warning signals and words clearly' apparent at night.

5. A signal target device comprising target walls having inner opposing concave reflector surfaces and having apex openings and auxiliary openings to one side of sand apex openings and arranged to outline let ters forming signal words, transparent jewels mounted in said openings and lamps mounted between the target wall reflectors for illuminating the said jewels and making the words clear at night.

6. A signal targetdevice comprising conical target walls applied together to form an. interior light chamber, said wallshaving lens openings at their apexes, lens holding flanges surrounding said openings, lenses adapted to fit thereon and securing straps for binding said lenses to said flanges.

7. A signal target comprising opposing signal walls spread apart centrally and having openings formed therein, lenses -mount-' ed in said openings, lens shielding hoods mounted over said lenses channel straps arranged tohold the said hoods and the said lenses upon the openings in the Wallsof the target and. lamps mounted within said walls for throwing rays of light through the said,

lenses at night.

v 8. A signal target comprising opposing conical walls having light,distributing faces therein, edge members having inner grooves adapted to fit on the edges of said conical walls, means for drawing said edge members toward each other for binding the conical members together, and interior illuminatmeans supported in the target.

n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence oi two witnesses.

JOHN M. Fll'llZ GERALD.

Witnesses:

lit. N. Pmm'rrcn, l. M. SrANeLnn. 

